ITA Clearance Process

Graduate School

ITA Program

What Is The International Teaching Assistant Program (ITAP)?

In order to receive a tuition benefit for a Graduate Teaching Assistant position, Job Code 9416, ITA Clearance is required for any graduate student whose native language is other than North American English.

The candidate must meet two requirements in order to obtain ITA Clearance:

1) An adequate level of spoken English proficiency, and

2) Completion of ITA training

Registration in the ITAP

Registration is done by the student’s home department or program. Interested students should contact the coordinator in their home department and the ITAP Manager via email. If in doubt as to who your department contact is, write an email to the ITAP Manager.

Spoken English Proficiency

The Speaking Score of the internet-based TOEFL (iBT) is used for pre-screening. Students with 25-30 on the iBT speaking score or 7 Band on the IELTS speaking section meet the spoken English requirement and gain ITA Clearance once they successfully complete the ITA Training.

Students a) whose speaking score is below the requirement or b) who do not have an iBT or IELTS score are given the opportunity for additional screening through the ITAP.

ITAP Flow Chart

Graduate-Level Spoken English Classes

Multiple sections of graduate-level ESOL (English for speakers of other languages) classes are offered during Fall and Spring semesters. The classes that are required by the ITAP (ESL 6040, 6050) are also coordinated by the ITAP, and focus primarily upon spoken English skills.

Students who are required to take classes as part of their route toward ITA Clearance have priority registration. If space permits, other international graduate students are welcome to register.

Oversight by the ITAP assures content appropriate to the needs of graduate students and with timing that accommodates their busy schedules.